Midnight 12.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[Hitei]

Looking at the Blizzcon map, I hope this is evidence that the Deeprun Rat City will finally be accessible.

That's the HS rat though.

[kavikor]

Just my gut feeling. Two different people claiming its Avaloren and giving screenshots of the 'new' zones that looks like already existing zone plus reused assets and AI'ish details. Dont believe in coicidences.

Honestly the guy who posted this newer image doesnt seem skilled enough to make the original 4 imo

The original 4 do have unique assets, hand placed objects, etc. even if faked the screenshots are hand sculpted, creatures given new textures/models and AI struggles hard with recreating any World of Warcraft character or creature model, especially in a way that looks like its ripped from the game. This new one is literally a basic AI prompt "create a wow zone" it tries to emulate the style but can't, the terrain is too painted, water too HD, the buildings are kind of ramshackle and thrown together, the trees are very low def, there's not a single creature or NPC in sight. It's like concept art in-engine, which isn't how we've seen traditional concept art done for WoW.

Whoever made the original 4 was skilled and did way more work than prompting an AI to create something for them, even if AI was used as a base to create the outline, it far outweighs whatever this new screenshot does imo.

But, maybe you're seeing something I'm not in there and I'm totally off base.

[Chickat]

Rocks in the left bottom looks painted for it to be an engine, water looks in-engine for it to be a concept art.
The whole location looks like Tiragarde Sound to the T.
Now i 99% sure this is fake and this guy made those 4 screenshots as well, so they are fake too.
Its 5 screenshots now, and every single one of them looks like an existing location+shit ton of reused assets. I see the pattern and its way too obvious to not be a well done fake.

Still gorgeous even if fake.

[Nicks188]

https://twitter.com/ChrisMetzen/stat...67941487182057

Not sure if this has been posted. Super random /shrug

[Viridiel]

I really can't decide between a Northrend revamp and an old world revamp. Northrend is technically the most due for a revamp if we count WoD as essentially an Outland revamp, but the old world feels more in need of a revamp since we spend a lot of time there.

Does anybody happen to have an image comparing the in-game size of Northrend to the other continents? I have to imagine it's roughly half the size of the Dragon Isles, which I guess would work out to about the same size with the addition of one or two expansive underground zones.

There's a good opportunity to give us an alternative version of Northrend too since I can't imagine Dalaran being brought back AGAIN. I just don't know what could serve as the capital... Icecrown? Ulduar?

[Delever]

This is the one who accurately leaked Diablo 4xpac and said wow was SoA and world revamp.

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Yep and they legit have the most accurate leak for d4. So I'm inclined to believe them.

Accurately? Did we get a confirmation their leak is the actual d4 expansion?

[Chickat]

Metzen: So, guys. Good news, we are doing a world revamp! *crowd cheers* Bad news, we need more time, so this expansion will last longer, until mid-2025. *crowd boos* But meanwhile, here's four zones, Avaloren, with a small 5 boss raid to tie you over while you wait! We promise the wait will be worth it! *crowd cheers, somewhere in the distance someone shouts "METZEN, LET ME HAVE YOUR BABY", and it's actually a dude.*

5 boss raid wouldnt be nearly enough.

[matijwow]

That's the HS rat though.

So you're saying there will be an inn there I can hearth to? That's awesome. RATHEARTH, GO!

[Xilurm]

https://twitter.com/ChrisMetzen/stat...67941487182057

Not sure if this has been posted. Super random /shrug

Interesting that his bio doesn't mention he is the co-founder of Warchief anymore.

[Chickat]

The original harpy lore was that they reproduced by kidnapping males of various races and forcibly mating.

Also, this is a page from the 2005 book The Art of World of Warcraft. https://archive.org/details/the-art-...craft_p011.jpg

Thats not gonna fly these days. 2023 blizzard wont use that nor should they.

[NoTimeToDie5426]

Interesting that his bio doesn't mention he is the co-founder of Warchief anymore.

I'm pretty sure he changed his background pic to the WoW logo since the last time I checked his page... hmmm

[Hitei]

I really can't decide between a Northrend revamp and an old world revamp. Northrend is technically the most due for a revamp if we count WoD as essentially an Outland revamp, but the old world feels more in need of a revamp since we spend a lot of time there.

Does anybody happen to have an image comparing the in-game size of Northrend to the other continents? I have to imagine it's roughly half the size of the Dragon Isles, which I guess would work out to about the same size with the addition of one or two expansive underground zones.

There's a good opportunity to give us an alternative version of Northrend too since I can't imagine Dalaran being brought back AGAIN. I just don't know what could serve as the capital... Icecrown? Ulduar?

Icecrown repurposed into an Ebon Blade stronghold city from which they fight the mindless Scourge is wild. Azjol'nerub should potentially be neutral if they've retaken a good portion of the kingdom from the undead Nerubians. So there could easily be a spider city. The Drakkari were wiped out as well, which means Gundrak and also Zul'drak as a larger scale sort of city zone are both "empty".

Honestly the guy who posted this newer image doesnt seem skilled enough to make the original 4 imo

The original 4 do have unique assets, hand placed objects, etc. even if faked the screenshots are hand sculpted, creatures given new textures/models and AI struggles hard with recreating any World of Warcraft character or creature model, especially in a way that looks like its ripped from the game. This new one is literally a basic AI prompt "create a wow zone" it tries to emulate the style but can't, the terrain is too painted, water too HD, the buildings are kind of ramshackle and thrown together, the trees are very low def, there's not a single creature or NPC in sight. It's like concept art in-engine, which isn't how we've seen traditional concept art done for WoW.

Whoever made the original 4 was skilled and did way more work than prompting an AI to create something for them, even if AI was used as a base to create the outline, it far outweighs whatever this new screenshot does imo.

But, maybe you're seeing something I'm not in there and I'm totally off base.

It's just bigger so it's easier to see the problems.

[Chickat]

Accurately? Did we get a confirmation their leak is the actual d4 expansion?

I dont keep up with diablo stuff. But they guessed a name of something that was changed in the lore and not discovered by anyone until way after they leaked it or something to that effect. Its possible they did some digging in a random place and found it before other dataminers, or they have legit info. Someone more familiar with the Diablo scene might be able to elaborate more. IMO they are the most trustworthy leaker so far. But I could be wrong.

[Hyde]

Damn, re-watching this Opening Ceremony from 2015...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mYqL8Dh9g

Such an amazing show. All the legends on stage, now gone. That makes me sad. Morhaime. Browder. Dodds. Kaplan. Metzen. And what a line-up of game content they brought that year. One of the finest years for Blizzard imo.

Afrasiabi

wait.

[Chickat]

Of course. The infinite dragons aren't really defeated and they're going to send us back in time for a revamp.

I always knew they were bros. Absolute G's.

[justwatching]

Accurately? Did we get a confirmation their leak is the actual d4 expansion?

No and he didnt "leak" it either. He reposted information thats supposedly from a russian group that got ahold of the 2.0 build they accidentally put up and didnt encrypt properly. And frankly its obvious because the dude wrote a fucking essay about D4 but gets cryptic the moment its about wow.

[Delever]

I dont keep up with diablo stuff. But they guessed a name of something that was changed in the lore and not discovered by anyone until way after they leaked it or something to that effect. Its possible they did some digging in a random place and found it before other dataminers, or they have legit info. Someone more familiar with the Diablo scene might be able to elaborate more. IMO they are the most trustworthy leaker so far. But I could be wrong.

Ah yeah they indeed guessed Nahantu right before it was changed to this name. I sincerely hope it's fake though cause spiritborn sounds like a snoozer.

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No. And he didnt "leak" it either he reposted information thats supposedly from a russian group that got ahold of the 2.0 build they accidentally put up and didnt encrypt properly.

Aaaaah ok sounds hella sus.

Well boys and girls... only a few more days to go.

[justwatching]

Yeah there is at this point no reason to believe the dude is anymore credible than any other brand new account claiming anything.

[matijwow]

Damn, re-watching this Opening Ceremony from 2015...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mYqL8Dh9g

Such an amazing show. All the legends on stage, now gone. That makes me sad. Morhaime. Browder. Dodds. Kaplan. Metzen. And what a line-up of game content they brought that year. One of the finest years for Blizzard imo.

Metzen's last line before the Legion cinematic:

Alright, guys. Well, what may well wind up being the end of the world begins right now.

[Chickat]

Dont think anyone posted this today but blizzcon got an updated final updated map!

Interesting that there is no demo area for Diablo 4.
@Marlamin Does that trick only work on imgur images? Doesnt seem to work on this one.

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And im caught up. For now.